Community concerns surrounding the future of the Greek Orthodox Parish of the Presentation of Our Lord in Coburg reached Victorian Parliament this week, after Liberal MP Evan Mulholland directly challenged the Minister for Planning over Merri-bek City Council’s controversial Central Coburg development plan.
Mulholland, the Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, put forward a Constituency Question to press the Minister on whether she would order her department to consult directly with the parish, which has warned that a proposed eight-storey tower planned opposite the Presentation of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church threatens to severely disrupt parish life and essential welfare services.
‘This is cultural vandalism‘: Mulholland delivers strong rebuke
Speaking exclusively to The Greek Herald, Mulholland condemned the draft plan, arguing that the Victorian Government had enabled the crisis through its statewide Activity Centre policy.
“This is cultural vandalism. This eight-storey tower is set to crush the spiritual heart of the Greek community in Coburg and the church’s aspirations, enabled by sheer state government negligence,” he said.
“The Liberals stand with the Greek Orthodox Church of the Presentation of the Lord community.”
Mulholland also criticised the Planning Minister for failing to intervene.
“To threaten the accessibility, parking, and safety of the Greek Orthodox Church is to threaten the very fabric of our community and the vital welfare services it provides,” he said. “The Premier must intervene immediately, scrap this devastating tower, and preserve this treasured site.”
The Minister now has 14 days to respond to Mulholland’s Constituency Question.
A community groundswell growing by the day
More than 3,000 people have already signed a petition titled Help STOP Merri-bek from closing our Church, launched by the Ypapanti Committee. The petition urges Council to revise its Central Coburg Structure Plan, which proposes at least 15 new buildings – including the eight-storey tower at the centre of community anger.
Residents warn that the redevelopment risks “destroying the heart of our community,” jeopardising the functioning of one of the municipality’s busiest spiritual and welfare hubs.
The Ypapanti precinct supports festivals, education programs, addiction recovery initiatives, homelessness outreach, and life events ranging from baptisms to funerals. Petitioners say these essential services “cannot be sustained” if parking, accessibility and safety are compromised.
Parking, safety and heritage fears dominate
The petition highlights fears over:
- Loss of essential on-site and street parking relied on by elderly parishioners, families and welfare program users
- A lack of released traffic or shadow modelling
- Construction impacts on the consecrated building, which houses fragile iconography and relics
- Uncertainty around the scope and effectiveness of a proposed multi-deck car park
Personal messages from parishioners describe the church as “the heart of our community” and a place built “with love and faith” across generations.
Calls for transparency and genuine consultation
Community requests to Council include scrapping or relocating the eight-storey tower, guaranteeing no net loss of parking, releasing all modelling publicly, conducting independent impact assessments, and ensuring co-design with the Church Committee.
“Revitalisation should not mean displacement,” the petition states, arguing the plan fails to meet the needs of Coburg’s diverse and multigenerational population.
Council says its vision reflects earlier community feedback
A Merri-bek City Council spokesperson told The Greek Herald that the Council “values Merri-bek’s Greek community” and is committed to working with the Church and its congregation to reach the best outcome for central Coburg.
The spokesperson said the Council had received extensive and detailed feedback from both the Greek and wider community during consultation on the draft concept.
They noted that the Council “cares deeply about central Coburg’s future,” which is why it is taking the time to listen to all feedback to “ensure we get the balance right.”
The spokesperson added that some aspects of the plan are likely to change in response to community submissions, with an update to be provided in the new year outlining next steps.
In the meantime, the Council is encouraging people to continue sharing their ideas and feedback so that, “together, we can create a thriving future for central Coburg where people can live, work, shop and connect.”
The plan remains open for public consultation until December 18.
What happens next
With the Minister for Planning now required to respond to Mulholland within 14 days and political pressure increasing, residents and parish leaders say they will continue campaigning until the church’s future and community services are protected.
